Furnace appliance



Fel V20, 1940.. H.I E.l Es v2,190,877'

FURNACE APPLIANGE Filed Dec. 2, 1958 VENTR.l vY

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUaNAcE ArrLmNcr-z Howard R. Lees, Wauwatosa, Wis'. Appucation'necember z, 193s, serial/No. 243,513

7 Claims.

Generally defined, an object of my present inl vention is to provide a simple and durable appliance which will effectively prevent undesirable mass coking and clinkering of the fuel fed into a combustion chamber by an automatic stoker or the like, and which will insure most eilicient distribution of the fuel and of the hot gases with respect to the heat transfer surfaces. When utilizing an ordinary automatic stoker to deliver Asolid fuel such'as partially pulverized coall upwardly into the central portion of a furnace combustion chamber, the fuel directly above the inlet tends to congeal into a' solid mass of coke which riseshigh into-the chamber and eventually clinkers. The air admitted to the combustion chamber near the fuel inlet, rises more or less in the form of a tube from the base of the coke column and does not spread uniformly throughout the fuel bed; and when the,

column has attained excessive height it topples over toward one side of the fire pot and thus causes extremely uneven distribution of the fuel. 'I'he ideal condition is to maintain a fuel bed of substantially uniform thickness and consistency with uniform flow of fresh air throughout the entire area of the bed, and this condition is not attainable .with the prior ordinary stoker` manner interfering with the normal operation of the stoker.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a new and useful combined fuel breaker and fuel and air distributor, especially applicable to automatically supplied fuel combustion chambers, which may be conveniently installed and requires no care or attention after p. Jper installation.

A further specific object of the present inven' tion is *to provide a simplified fuel and air distri tor for furnaces, which will effectively withstand the heat of combustion, and which may be manufactured and installed at moderate cost.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved appliance for effecting most efficient distribution of fuel and gases in a combustion chamber, and which may also be l utilized to heat liquid for diverse purposes. 5 These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of several embodiments of my invention, and of the mode of constructing l0 and of utilizing appliances built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of thislspeci'cation wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts,15 inthe various views. c

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a typical hot air furnace equipped with an automatic fuel stoker and having one of my appliances installed therein, lthis illustration showing 20 the normal functioning of the improved device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view of one type of the improved appliance `especially adapted for usein circular combustion chambers;

Fig. 3 is an approximately central vertical sec- 25 tion through the appliance of Fig; 2, the section being taken along the line 3 3; V

Fig. 4 is a true central Vertical section through another type ofthe improved appliance, adapted to heat liquid and having a special heat resisting 30 guide point;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section of still another type of my appliance adapted for use in circular combustion chambers;

Fig. 6 is a top View of a modified form of the 35 improved appliance applicable to an elongated substantially rectangular fire box;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the assemblage shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section through 40 the device of Figs. 6 and 7, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

, While the invention has been shown herein as being applied to a certain type of hot air furnace "having a particular type of automatic fuel stoker 45 associated therewith, it is not the intention to thereby unnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the. improvement. Referring especially to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing, the device as shown therein is es- 50 pecialiy applicable to a furnace of the type illustrated in Fig. `1 having an approximately circular fire pot Iii above which a combustion chamber H is located, and to the lower central portion Vof which solid fuel I2 is adapted to be fed by 55 means of a stoker I3 having an upwardly directed fuel delivery opening I4. The fuel opening I4 is directly surrounded by a grate II through which air for supporting combustion is 5 admissible from an air duct I3; and the iire'pot I0 and combustion chamber II are embraced by an air space |`I formed by the outer casing I8, and through which the heat conveying a1rcirculates. A conduit I9 connects the combus- 0 tion chamber II with the exterior of the outer casing I8 at one side of and above the iire pot I0, and is provided with an inspection door 23; and all of these elements of the assemblage are relatively standard in both hot air furnaces and in hot water boilers, except that in the latter the space I'I is replaced by suitable water conveying passages or ues.

The improved appliance as illustrated in Figs.

1 to 3 inclusive, comprises an inverted down- 0 wardly converging tapered body or cone 2| formed of special heat resistant metal and having an annular series of projections d22 forming upwardly enlarging intervening Irecesses 23; a suspension arm or rod 24 secured to the central 25 portion of the base 25 of thecone 2| by means of screw threads V23 and a lock nut 21; a'supi port 28 for the outer end of the rod 24 adapted for attachment to` the furnace inspection conduit I9; and a guard 23 for the intermediate 30 portion. of the rod 24 which is directly ,exposed to the flame and hot gases of combustion. In this embodiment of the invention, the cone 2| is formed of a solid block of metal, and the projections 22 and intervening recesses 23 form corrugations on the outer conical surface, which gradually increase in size approaching the base l 25. ,These corrugations face the fuel admission opening |4 and are obviously inclined so as to direct the entering solid fuel l2 ,radially outwardly over the 4grate I3; and the projections 22 and recesses 2| while permitting the advancing fuel to spread uniformly, will preventr this fuel from sliding around the cone 2I and out of the radial planes of advancement. The space beneath the cone 2|' and above the opening |4 is entirely free fromv permanent obstructions so that the entering fuel may seek its own path of travel, and the cone 2| may be adjusted vertically along the screw threads 23 to any desired v height and may thereafter be locked in adby means of a cap screw 30 so that the cone' justed position wim the aid' of the mit 21. The j suspension rod 24 is also formed of heat resistant metal, and the outer end of this'rod is preferably adjustabiy secured to the support 23 fixed location, of the cone 2| in any desired p position. 'I'he guard 23 which need not necessarily be used, maybe formed of an inverted angle barextending beneath the medial portion of the 'rod 24, and this guard 23 may -be loosely suspended from the rod 24 by'transverse clips 32.

vIn Fig. 4 I have yshown another type ofthe improved Aappliance comprising a hollow body or cone 33 having anv internal water heating chamber 34 provided with a cold water inlet u pipo 35 and a hot water discharge pipe 33 surthe top of the combustion areas??` rolmding the pipe 3l and secured to the cone 33 by screw threads 23 and a lock nut 21. The innerand outer water circulating pipes 35, 36 may be utilized to provide, a support for the cone 33,'and the water admittedto the chamber 34 through the inlet 35 is delivered through the outlet pipe 33 in heated condition and may be utilized for any desired purpose. The modiiied cone 33 of Fig. 4 is preferably provided with a corrugated tapered outer surface as in the cone 25, but the modied structure is additionally provided with a special high-heat resistant point '31 which may be rigidly attached to the main body of the cone '33 in any suitable manner. Such a special point may also be applied to the cone 23 of Figs. 2 and 3, and to the other modifications hereinafter described.

In Fig. 5 is shown still another type of the improveds device contemplated to save material from which the distributing cone is made. In this. embodiment of my invention, the inverted cone 33 has a depression 3 3 therein, within which Lthe screw threads 23 and lock nut 2'I are confined and protectedfrom the iiame and hot gases. The-` suspension rod 24 of thismodiiication, as well as the suspension devices of the other types,

may be disposed vertically instead of horizonmuy as shown in Fig. 1, and 1n that c ase the upper end of the rod 24 chamber in any Suitable manner.

In Figs. 6, -7 and 8, I have shown a still fur.- ther modification of my appliance, which is especially adapted for use in stoker fed combus-v` tion' chambers of elongated rectangular form. Ifhis modification comprises an elongated downwardly converging body 43 formed of special heat resistant material and having external projeetions` 4I and intervening recesses l2 forming fuelguiding land distributing corrugations; and one or more suspension rods 24 secured to"the body 43 within' a depression 43 therein, by means of screw threads 23 and lock nu'ts 21. 'nie corrugations formed by the projections 4I and recesses 42 on the opposite sides of vthe body 43, form parallel upwardly and outwardly inclined guideways for conducting the upwardly advancing fuel imiformiy over the grate and ilre bed.

Since the operation or functioning of the several modifications is identical, it will sumceto o describe `the normal operation of the appliance as specifically illustrated in Fig. l. After-the parts have been constructed as herein above described, the support 23 may be attached to the conduit I3 of the furnace, and the sus'- pension rod- 24 maybe secured to the support 23 after the veone'2l has been applied thereto. By manipulating the various adjusting means, the cone 2l may be located at any desired height or location with respect to the fuel inlet opening I4, and ordinarily a central disposition with the cone high enough so as not to undesirably obstruct the fuel iiow, is desirable. 'After the cone 25 has been properly positioned and iixed in such position, operation of the stoker I3 will cause the column of fuel I2 rising through the `inlet opening I4 to engage the downwardly directed apex of the inverted cone 25 and to travel along the projections 2.2 and recesses 23. The upwardly and outwardly inclined gradually widening corrugations formed by these projec tions and recesses, will permit the fuel I2 to gradually spread and will divert the fuel away from the central axis of the chamber I| and may be attached 1:030

uniformly distribute the same over the grates I and over the fuel bed, so as to constantly maintain a bed of approximately uniform thickness and consistency. The fresh air admitted from the duct I6 flows upwardly through the fuel bed, and thus insures uniform and complete combustion; and the hot gases of combustion leaving the bed are diverted outwardly by the upper end of the cone 25 toward the walls Y' of the combustion chamber Il which are in an extremely simple, yet highly eflicient appliance for insuring most effective distribution of fuel and gases in a stoker fed combustion chamber. The improvement is readily applicable, by virtue of the various adjustments provided, to various types of stoker fed furnaces and boilers, and the corrugations provided on the exterior of the downwardly converging body are important'in order to prevent undesirable slippage of the fuel laterally along the surface of the body and to insure uniform distribution. The distributing body may be suspended in any suitable manner, preferably from above so as to eliminate undesirable obstruction to the flow of fuel delivered upwardly through the feed opening I4, and the body may be readily formed hollow` and utilized as an auxiliary water heater as shown in Fig. 4. By forming the appliance of suitable heat resistant material, it will not be detrimentally affected by the intense heat, and this fact has been proven by extensive actual use of the improved device under severest operating conditions. The improved appliance may obviously be manufactured at moderate cost, and may be conveniently installed by a novice, and requires no special attention after proper initial installation thereof.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation,

herein shown and described, for various modifications within -the scope of the claimsmay occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: l

1. Incombination with a combustion chamber having means for feeding fuel upwardly thereto,

of a downwardly converging tapered body pointing into the burning fuel bed and centrally vtoward the fuel admission opening, the space below said body being devoid of permanent obstructions and the tapered walls thereof being provided with upwardly extending corrugations for positively guiding the rising fuel in segregated strips while directing the same outwardly.

2. In combination with a combustion `chamber having means for feeding fuel upwardly thereto, of a downwardly converging tapered body pointing into the fuel bed and having upwardly and outwardly directed fuel guiding corrugations.

3. In combination with a combustion chamber having means for feeding yfuel upwardly thereto, of a downwardly converging tapered body pointing into the fuel bed and having upwardly and outwardly directed fuel guiding corrugations, and means for suspending said body from above.

4. In combination with a combustion chamber having means for feeding fuel upwardly thereto, of a downwardly converging tapered body pointing into the fuel bed and having upwardly and outwardly directed fuel guiding corrugations,

Vmeans for suspending said body from above, and

means for effecting adjustment of said body relatively to said fuel feeding means.

5. In combination with a combustion chamber having means for feeding fuel upwardly thereto, of an inverted cone pointing into the fuel bed and having an annular series of ridges and intervening tapered grooves forming upwardly widening fuel spreading and guiding corrugations.

6. In combination with a combustion chamber having means for feeding fuel upwardly thereto, of an inverted cone pointing into-the fuel bed and having an annular series of ridges and intervening tapered grooves forming upwardly widening fuel spreading and guiding corrugations, and means for suspending said cone from above to avoid obstructions therebelow.

7. In combination with a combustion chamber having means for` feeding fuel upwardly thereto, of an inverted cone pointing into the fuel bed and having an annular series of ridges and intervening tapered grooves forming upwardly widening fuel spreading and guiding corrugations, and adjustable means for suspending said cone above the fuel inlet, said suspensionmeans being formed to permit both vertical and lateral adjustment of the cone.

' HOWARD R. LEES. 

